IMS Research conducted a user survey of 261 respondents from North America and Europe, which found expected increases in dedicated data devices such as notebooks and tablet PCs/PDAs. Respondents said that approaching two-thirds of LMR users would use dedicated data devices over commercial cellular networks within five years.

“It is obvious from the user survey that LMR users require data solutions and that the trends are for the increased use of sophisticated devices to service these needs,” said Thomas Lynch, IMS Research mobile radio analyst. “The question that now remains is how this will change the day-to-day modus operandi and what the mobile radio ecosystem can do to service these needs.”

Of the 39 percent of LMR agencies that indicated they used their current LMR systems for data as opposed to commercial cellular systems, devices that are voice centric but offer additional data functionality are used in most cases. However, respondents indicated that their use of dedicated data devices would increase significantly during the next three to five years.

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